33: Autism & Healing Series: What I DO Pray For My Autistic Kid?

If I don't know whether God intends to remove my son's autism this side of eternity… what exactly do I pray for?

In Part 1 of this series, we established a framework: God gets the outcome. I get the assignment. But trusting God with the outcome doesn't mean we stop asking Him for things. Paul didn't. In 2 Corinthians 12, he pleaded with God to remove his thorn three times. Trusting God's sovereignty didn't silence his prayers—and it doesn't have to silence ours.

In this episode, I'm getting very practical about what I pray for Graham: salvation, communication, reading, regulation, patience, self-advocacy, friendships, courage, meaningful work, opportunities to use his gifts, and ultimately that he would become a disciple who makes disciples.

Because the greatest miracle I could witness in my autistic son's life isn't watching an autistic child become non-autistic. It's watching a spiritually dead sinner be made alive in Christ.

And somewhere in all of this, I'm learning how to live in the tension between hope and expectation. I can desperately want something for my son, ask God boldly for it, work faithfully toward it—and still refuse to make that hoped-for outcome a burden Graham has to carry.

Ask boldly. Work faithfully. Hope deeply. Hold the outcome with open hands.

Scriptures Referenced

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 Ephesians 2:1–10 Romans 8:29 Romans 10:17 1 Corinthians 13 Galatians 5:22–23

Questions for This Week

Instead of ONLY asking, "Do I pray for my child's healing?" ask:

What am I specifically asking God to do IN my child's life?

Write it down. Salvation? Communication? Understanding? Wisdom? Courage? Friendships? Regulation? Self-advocacy? A love for Scripture? Opportunities to serve? Greater independence?

Then ask one more question:

What am I asking God to grow in ME?

Because you can't raise an autistic disciple without first being a disciple yourself.

Jesus, make my son more like You. Not less autistic. More like Christ.

______

📚 Letters to Lindsey: Seeing Your Child's Autism Diagnosis Through a Gospel Lens [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS87WY24] 📚 How to Advocate & Stay Christian [https://link.amazon/B00yWcdKK] 📺 Minno — Get a free 7-day trial with code RAD [https://gominno.com/?afmc=RAISINGAUTISTICDISCIPLES] 🛍️ Larah's Amazon Picks [https://www.amazon.com/shop/raisingautisticdisciples] 👕 RAD Merch [https://raising-autistic-disciples.printify.me/products] ✍️ Read RAD on Substack [https://substack.com/@raisingautisticdisciples]